The plan, which includes the removal of plane trees along the main streets and the construction of a median strip, has remained controversial since it was proposed in 2014. 

“I am dead against this,” Elise McDonald from Emporium on Byron said.

She said her experience with a similar revamp on Chevron Island taught her such upgrades don’t work.

“They ended up destroying the local businesses, losing customers while building the upgrades and ended up taking away valuable car spaces,” she said.

“Several of my retail friends couldn’t endure the upheaval.”

Otho, Byron and Evans Streets will be affected by approximately 15 weeks of works, with parking limited to the southern side of Otho Street for 12 weeks. 

“I’m not happy about the inconvenience, the loss of trade, the dirt and dust on my beautiful clothing,” Marg Brady from Ellati said. 

Judy Frame, co-owner of FDBs, said she was concerned about the impact on small, locally owned businesses during the long construction period.

“We are all struggling,” she said. She said her store was “hit hard” during the development of the Big W carpark and was still trying to catch up from the budget disruption. 

“Retail’s tough enough at the moment without having your access closed off,” Mick Hoynes of Bikes on Byron said.

Although he could see the reasoning for replacing the plane trees with a more suitable species, he said he didn’t see the need for major change. 

Building owner Rhonda Hutton said that business owners invested a lot of money into their stores before even opening the doors. She was worried some would struggle to pay their rent during the disruption.

David Ferris of the Premier Store felt removing the trees would limit the town’s appeal.

“I speak to many visitors who express how lovely the town looks. When I tell them of our council's plans and intentions to remove the trees they are dumbfounded and in some cases very angry,” he said.

“The increased heat in the CBD and loss of shade for shoppers is not needed with the extreme summer temperatures we are experiencing.”

Ms Frame agreed, and said that trees planted in the median strip would take too long to become established. 

“It really does make my blood boil to think that the council is taking those beautiful trees down,” she said.

“I am just truly, truly disappointed in the council for what they’re doing.” Ms Frame said the council was not interested in listening to opposing views.

“I know two councilors have been vocal in their opposition and I wish some of the others would take a greater interest in business', shoppers' and visitors' sentiments,” Mr Ferris said.

The removal of the trees has remained a hot topic for several years, with three different aborist reports showing varied results. The council have maintained that improper planting causing infrastructure damage required their removal.

Ms Hutton said she begged the council to do more research on the impact of plane trees before they were planted in the 1990s. 

“It’s a shame they didn’t listen years ago,” she said.

Community member Sue Moran, who has been a vocal opponent of the plane tree removals and CBD plan, was concerned about the cost.

“I think it’s a case of smoke and mirrors. I think that we’re never going to find out the true cost of it,” she said.

She warned that a median strip would make parking more difficult for locals used to wider roads. She said similar construction was a disaster for Glen Innes businesses.

“We’ll have to do u-turns in the middle of the street for several weeks, and then they’re going to close off the parking, except for parallel parking for three months,” she said.

“What about Easter and the trade that they get over Easter? It’s going to be closed off. People aren’t going to walk down there to get to shops.”

Mrs Moran said there was still time to halt the construction, and urged locals who opposed the renewal plan to let the councillors know. 

“I think that any time the councillors think people care about it, and are ringing them constantly, I think that maybe then they’ll do something about it,” she said.

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